Hyundai hasn’t shown its midsize pickup yet, but the paperwork keeps piling up. A new filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office describes a power tailgate that can drop down like a normal gate or swing out sideways like a door, all from a single motor. If it makes production, it could give the brand’s Toyota Tacoma rival a neat party trick.
- Hyundai’s patent describes a powered tailgate that opens along two axes using one motor and a clutch.
- It’s the second multi-function tailgate filing tied to the brand’s confirmed midsize, body-on-frame pickup.
- Patents don’t confirm production, and Hyundai hasn’t said this tailgate will reach showrooms.
How One Motor Handles Two Jobs
The filing describes a dual-axis setup built around a clutch motor and a clutch. Put simply, the gate can lower the usual way, or the larger section can swing out on a vertical hinge so you can walk right up to the bed. One button handles the drop. Another handles the swing.
Hyundai says the design fills a gap. Some trucks already have tailgates that open more than one way, and some have power operation, but powered gates have stuck to a single axis. Ford and Ram both sell gates that open like a door, and on both the owner still does the swinging by hand. Hyundai’s idea would put a motor behind both moves.
The clever part is the motor count. Running both motions off one motor means fewer motors than a two-motor setup would need. The trade-off is a more complicated mechanism in a spot that can take a beating. Tailgates get bumped and loaded all day long, and a fancy clutch system back there could turn into a pricey repair or replacement.
Why Tailgates Matter So Much in a Midsize Truck
Body-on-frame trucks are a mature formula. Most brands chase buyers with drivetrains, tech, and features that make daily use easier, and the tailgate has become a prime target. Flexibility and ease of use are the goals, and this patent swings at both.
Bed access is a big deal for anyone sizing up a truck. Shoppers moving down from a full-size pickup might start by asking how long is a Silverado 1500 and whether a midsize model will fit their garage and their gear. Once size is sorted out, the next question is usually how easy it is to reach what’s in the bed. A side-swinging gate lets you step right up to the bed without leaning over a dropped tailgate, which could be handy for grabbing tools or a cooler.
The design isn’t perfect. A single motor opening the gate like a door or dropping it down is clever, but it’s not as versatile as some tailgates already on the market. And adding complex electrical parts to a simple, hard-working piece of the truck opens the door to problems down the road.
This filing also seems to build on an earlier one. A previous Hyundai patent described a similar multi-function gate with a fold-out extendable floor for when the side-hinged section is open. Both filings use similar drawings, which may hint at the final truck’s shape. Two related patents suggest this could be more than a passing idea.
What We Know About Hyundai’s Tacoma Rival
Hyundai has officially confirmed a midsize pickup for America, and it’s aimed squarely at the Toyota Tacoma, with the Ford Ranger in the mix too. The truck is due later this decade and will ride on a body-on-frame platform, making it bigger and tougher than the Santa Cruz. Its rugged styling should borrow from the Boulder concept Hyundai showed at this year’s New York Auto Show.
Other patents fill in more of the picture, though none of them are promises. One describes a hybrid system that can ford water without flooding the exhaust, which makes sense for an off-roader. Another points to a possible midgate. A third suggests a removable roof, similar in spirit to the Jeep Gladiator. Sister brand Kia has confirmed a hybrid and a range-extender EV for its own America-focused truck arriving around the same time, so a hybrid Hyundai pickup wouldn’t be a shock.
Hyundai has a lot riding on this. The Santa Cruz wasn’t a strong seller, and the midsize segment is a tough crowd that Toyota rules.
Keep an Eye on Hyundai’s Tailgate Plans
Keep your expectations in check for now. Automakers often file patents to protect ideas, and a filing doesn’t mean the part will reach a production vehicle. Hyundai has confirmed the truck, but it hasn’t confirmed this tailgate. So treat the filing as a peek at what the engineers are exploring.
Still, it’s a promising direction. A powered gate that drops or swings at the push of a button would give Hyundai a talking point against rivals that still make you do the work. If the brand can make it tough enough for real truck life, buyers might love it. Watch for more details as the truck gets closer to its debut.
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